Method and apparatus for system status monitoring, testing and restoration

Abstract

Method and apparatus for channel monitoring, channel throughput restoration and system testing in relation to channel monitoring and channel throughput restoration is described. A failure status of a channel is identified. The channel and at least one engine associated with the failure status is disabled. A client application assigned such a channel is notified that the channel has been disabled. The at least one engine and the channel associated with the failure status is restored. Additionally, the client application is allowed to destroy and reconstruct command status and state of the channel. Additionally, error information for the failure status is stored. Other aspects include: error injection which may be used for testing ability to detect an error and recover; and a graphical user interface for rendering mode selection for increasing channel throughput.

1. A method for presenting a graphical user interface for a programmed computer, the method comprising:
 displaying on a display device a control panel having:
 a selectable system status checking switch for selecting one of enabling and disabling system status checking, and 
 a menu of at least one selectable rendering mode type, wherein the at least one selectable rendering mode type is selectable responsive to selection of the enabling of the system status checking; 
 
 detecting that the system status checking is enabled; 
 detecting an error during operation of a processing unit; and 
 causing the processing unit to be operated in a recovery mode to maintain processing unit operability in view of the error. 
 
   
   
     2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectable rendering mode type is selected from interactive mode and batch mode. 
   
   
     3. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer system to monitor errors associated with operating a graphics processing unit, by performing the steps of:
 receiving a rendering mode type; 
 determining a periodic callback time associated with the rendering mode type; and 
 scheduling a channel access to the graphics processing unit included within the computer system based on the periodic callback time. 
 
   
   
     4. The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the rendering mode type is an interactive mode type. 
   
   
     5. The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the rendering mode type is a batch mode type. 
   
   
     6. The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of determining the periodic callback time comprises finding a threshold time for channel access in a look-up table. 
   
   
     7. A computing system, comprising:
 a central processing unit; 
 a graphics processing unit coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the graphics processing unit is capable of receiving data and commands from client applications over a plurality of channels; 
 a scheduler and a switch configured to provide controlled access from the client applications via the plurality of channels to the graphics processing unit; 
 a memory coupled to the graphics processing unit and the central processing unit and configured to store instructions; and 
 a display device configured to display a graphical user interface having a control panel that comprises:
 a selectable system status checking switch for selecting one of enabling and disabling system status checking, and 
 a menu of at least one selectable rendering mode type, wherein the at least one selectable rendering mode type is selectable responsive to selection of the enabling of the system status checking. 
 
 
   
   
     8. The computing system according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one selectable rendering mode type is selected from interactive mode and batch mode. 
   
   
     9. The computing system according to  claim 7 , wherein the display device is further configured to display an application program interface that comprises:
 a data field to receive a rendering mode type; 
 a first command to lookup a periodic callback time associated with the rendering mode type; and 
 a second command to set the periodic callback time to schedule channel access to the graphics processing unit. 
 
   
   
     10. The computing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the rendering mode type is an interactive mode type. 
   
   
     11. The computing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the rendering mode type is a batch mode type. 
   
   
     12. The computing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the periodic callback time is included in a look-up table.